THE MOST INFLUENTIAL FOOTBALL BLOG OF THE DECADE - SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

How the new Premier League clubs must spend their cash this summer

Come on Hull, at least try to stay up

After giving our two cents on how the five top flight London clubs should spend their cash yesterday, today we look at how the Premier League newcomers should invest their modest budgets in the closed season…

West Brom

Top priority:
Some new defenders – West Brom have got guys capable of scoring goals but at the back they are very leaky. They let in 55 goals last season and the last time the Championship winners conceded that many was way back in 1961. Don’t do what Derby did and sign a load of rubbish defenders though.

Fitting the bill: Calum Davenport, Michael Dawson, Stephen Kelly

Stoke

Top priority:
A Plan B – So Stoke won promotion by being brutish and scoring from Rory Delap’s long throws but Watford showed that physicality alone isn’t enough to survive. Last season Stoke forward Mamady Sidibe started 35 games and scored just four goals – more firepower is a must.

Fitting the bill: Harry Kewell, Shane Long, Marlon Harewood

Hull

Top priority:
Some youth and depth – Hull are ridiculed for relying heavily on old-timers Dean Windass and Nick Barmby but there’s nothing wrong with this policy as long as they are supplemented by some talented youngsters to help share the workload. A bit more quality and depth in defence is also a must.

4 responses so far

Ali AL Habsi is a great bolton goalkeeper – I think he can do something with city hull – such a briallant keeper and he can be a city hull No 1

Peter
london

Dave// June 19, 2008 at 5:39 pm

Oh yeah you right peter – Ali is one of the best goal keeper during last season even he played 10 games – but at least he showed us that he is the best – better than Jaaskelainen with all respect – I wish if he could say with Bolton much longer – but – let him fly and it is a great chance for him to be play and watch very close with other clubs, I’m a big fun of Ali AL Habsi.

Dave
Bolton

Yafith// June 19, 2008 at 5:55 pm

I totally agreed with you gent’s – Ali won 3 times best goalkeeper in the GCC country and I think he disserve to be a goal keeper No1 with Bolton, as you mentioned Dave , he is better than Jussi- only 10 games he showed all the best he had during that season im a big fan of AL- Habsi – everybody love’s him back here in Oman – we really support and want him to be chose No 1 with Bolton or Prime club, I remember Bolton vs Middlesbrought – he was the men of the game that day, anyhow, we will see in a next few days – then we will know – what never will stay with Bolton or heading to city hull

Yafith
OMAN

Hmmm// June 19, 2008 at 8:45 pm

haha is that the same guy posting above 3 times bumming an average goalie? Also somehow can’t see Harry Kewell playing for Stoke somehow…